The Root

Author Marianne Williamson, more commonly referred to as “the kooky lady running for president” ended her 2020 Democratic presidential campaign Friday after many people who are openly Democrat and follow politics were like, “She’s still in the race?”

“You know my mother thinks she knows you. Like she talks about you like y’all are friends.” A friend of mine told me this on the phone one morning a few weeks ago. I hear this a lot; black folks, especially retired black people, can be trusted to do a few things: go to church, consume nighttime dramas on network TV…Read more...

For too long, the writers at The Root have ignored the plight of those whose labor goes unrecognized and unheralded. In our fight for equality and justice, we have forgotten one outstanding group of Americans who are willing to lay their lives on the line. But that ends today.Read more...

“I’m part of the first generation of gay men, ever, who get to be out, loud, and proud in the world. My generation is the first,” says Pose star, red carpet slayer, and multiple major award-winner Billy Porter. “Bitches are scared. And they should be.”Read more...

I’ll say this again (and forever): Why solely take a seat at a table full of unseasoned awards when you have black-ass awards shows to celebrate?Read more...

Remember late 2016, when, faced with the reality of Trump’s not-so-great vision of America, many fantasized about an exodus to nearby Canada, led by a then-seemingly idyllic, pre-blackface-scandal Justin Trudeau? At the time, then-actress Meghan Markle was starring in Suits, a hit show shot in Toronto, and enjoying a…Read more...

I’d like to be one of those parents who can say that my kids have never heard me use profanity. But I can’t do that. In fact, if you live within a mile of my house, it is highly likely that if you have kids, they’ve heard me use profanity. Stepping on shit my kids leave to blend in, chameleon-like, on my multi-colored…Read more...

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin-on-Trump’s-nuts just can’t stop pass-blocking for his boo. Besides denying a request by Congress to turn over Trump’s tax documents, he’s now trying to delay revealing how much the Trump family has spent on presidential travel until after the 2020 election and Russia uses Facebook to…Read more...

An LG monitor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a cookie tin, and a FNT sherpa jacket lead off Friday’s best deals from around the web.Read more...

This April will mark four years since we lost the unmatched legend known as Prince, and the Recording Academy is holding a live tribute concert to honor The Purple One.

Charles Barkley definitely understands the value of our nation’s historically black colleges and universities—so much so that he has reportedly made it his personal mission to give them money whenever possible.Read more...

A tragic story has taken yet another sad turn.Read more...

In this installment of Freudian slips that make you go “Damn,” we turn to the Cleveland Cavaliers.Read more...

It seems as though a week can’t go by without a racist incident occurring in an American classroom.Read more...

“You never knew what was going to happen because…he was Richard Pryor.”Read more...

Guess who just ordered some Lawry’s for this white-ass awards season? That’s right—the NAACP!Read more...

“Donald, EEC passed away.”

I know how to fix racism.

Some may be predicting the impending death of streetwear, but leave it to Beyoncé to make the revival of Ivy Park look like the second serving of Lemonade. In a teaser video dropped at midnight on Thursday, the multihyphenate megastar gave us a dose of California-fueled nostalgia as she previewed her relaunch of the…Read more...

It’s a 2020 miracle! Or um, more like a 2021 miracle. But we received the news in 2020, so let’s go with that.

Bryan A. Stevenson is a gift.Read more...

In an attempt to brag on himself once again, President Trump may have hipped us to an exclusive financial plan only allowed to the top one percent. On Thursday, the president tweeted out that the stock market is on the rise and to prove it, he wanted everyone to check their 409Ks!

On Wednesday, it was announced that a Ukrainian passenger jet near Tehran crashed, killing all 176 aboard. Now it is with “high confidence” that U.S. officials believe that the aircraft was shot down by an Iranian missile.

If you’re stuck inside because of the weather, and you’ve got young kids with way too much energy, and your kids (or you) are about to flip a table, consider stashing them away.

If you think the 2020 Oscars was going to return to regularly scheduled programming by featuring a single comedian performing a snarkily narcissistic monologue in front of actors who take themselves too seriously, think again!Read more...

Whoo, just when you thought the British monarchy’s tea was hot enough! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made waves on Wednesday with their “we’re stepping back” statement, officially putting us all on notice that they are no longer with the royal shits. But as the Los Angeles Times and the BBC report, the Sussexes…Read more...

After The Root’s Michael Harriot ripped Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg’s troubling tenure with black officers during his time as mayor of South Bend, Ind., (seriously, if you have not read this story, stop what you are doing and read it now. I see you; put the baby down and read this story. I’m not…Read more...

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Any list of the pleasant surprises from the months of book-related touring, talks, events, and appearances in 2019 would include the week I spent in London in May. It was my first time in England—a place I never had any desire to visit. (I’ve seen Closer seven times, which I figured was enough London for me.)…Read more...

New York is built for the tough, the impatient, the bold, the ones who live to take risks. Basically, it’s a city built for jaywalkers. It’s a great unifier: people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, races, ages, and creeds united in their disdain for the city’s cars, bikers, and assigned crosswalks. And for the most…Read more...

Unlike the New York subway system, the Republican propaganda train is never late.

An Original Penguin sale, reusable food bags, grooming gloves, and slipper sale lead off Thursday’s best deals from around the web.Read more...

Following the explosive second chapter of the Surviving R. Kelly series, there has been an alarming turn of events involving Robert “R” Kelly’s girlfriends / alleged sex slaves.Read more...

Occasionally The Root will interrupt our coverage of black news, opinions, politics, and culture to openly address our white readership. In 2020, we’d like to finally have that oft-discussed “conversation about race” we hear you guys mention so often. To be clear, white people need to have a conversation about race.…Read more...

South Carolina Democrat and 2019 Root 100 honoree Jaime Harrison is running to oust Senator/human Muppet Lindsey Graham from the seat he’s held for three terms. Recent fundraising numbers show he just might have a shot.Read more...

So I guess Mississippi could possibly elect a Final Fantasy villain to the Senate this year? At least, that is if you believe Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.Read more...

Australia is currently in the midst of one of its most destructive wildfires. After a performance at the Sydney Opera House, Lizzo saw fit to do her part to help.Read more...

If you thought 2020 was shaping up to be one hell of a year (in the literal sense), here’s another case to add to the file: Nick Sandmann, the Covington, Ky., prep school student perceived to be mocking a Native American at the Lincoln Memorial last year, just got paid.Read more...

While typically captivating audiences with his trademark baritone, DaBaby has spent quite a bit of time as of late entangled in endless legal drama. Thankfully, it would appear that at least one of those incidents can be put behind him, as prosecutors have decided not to press charges against the 28-year-old recording…Read more...

Celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels, known for any number of infomercials after being one of the original taskmasters on The Biggest Loser, appeared on Buzzfeed’s morning show, AM2DM Wednesday morning to hawk her fitness app, during which she managed to prove that the biggest loser may actually be one with the biggest…Read more...

Whatever is next for Curtis Flowers, the man responsible for keeping him in prison for more than two decades will not be involved.Read more...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex—also known as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—have just concluded several weeks out of the spotlight as they retreated to North America to celebrate the holidays. But their return came with a major announcement, via the Sussex Royal Instagram page: the duo has decided to “step back as…Read more...

If, like me, you were thoroughly confused about why Nicki Minaj’s nearly five-year-old Madame Tussaud’s likeness was trending on Tuesday, congratulations; you pay way too much attention to pop culture! (Here’s hoping you’re at least getting paid for it). I instantly recalled the August 2015 Las Vegas unveiling of the…Read more...

Racial profiling in retail environments is unfortunately nothing new; many of us are all too familiar with “extra attention” while innocently browsing a store, and reports of incidents have seemingly been unceasing since the advent of social media. Whether being accused of stealing from the soon-to-be-shuttered luxury…Read more...

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As a California resident who declines to partake in one of its finest exports, I have no idea how to differentiate hemp from weed, and apparently police can’t either, as a U-Haul truck filled to the brim with approximately 3,350 lbs. of one of the above landed one poor unfortunate hired driver behind bars.Read more...

Starting almost 30 minutes late for his press conference, President Trump—surrounded by a bevy of white men (literally everyone behind him made up the evolution of white men)—appeared to use the strategy officially called “bubble guts,” softening his tone against Iran, which was vastly different than the Twitter tone…Read more...

Celebrity branding has come a long way in recent years. Though stars have been slapping their name on products for decades, the new crop of celebrity entrepreneurs is taking an emphatically hands-on approach with their product lines. Whether it’s Zendaya bringing along stylist Law Roach to help co-design her line with…Read more...

Let’s get this sentiment out of the way—fuck cancer.Read more...

As a black woman, mother and grandmother, the words I want to hear from presidential candidates on “public education” are this: How do we innovate for, build true academic progress around and save trapped black students from dysfunctional education systems?Read more...